The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-14

And friends betrayed Hi m to Els foes.
ELDER R. w. SLOAN on arising stated
his inability to describe his feelings. He
said the more he attempted to address
the people, and speak of the principles
of the gospel, the more he felt his in
ability and weakness. He doubted that
he lived according to the principles he
espoused and. in a measure, was, in con
sequence, deprived of that Spirit which
should dictate all who address the Saints
He mentioned the fact that the Saints
were a peculiar people, in that they do
not believe as the world believed. There
were many ways of salvation. but only
one right one. There always had been
opposition to the work of God, and ever
would be, but hitherto, the truth had
always proven triumphant. He asked
his hearers to look into history and see
that what he said was correct. The
spirit of opposition was prevalent in the
world, and it was always directed
against the truth. The fact that only
few had espoused Mormonism, and
believed in the doctrines taught by
them, was fallaciously urged as
an argument that they had not
the truth, or more would en-
brace it. The speaker briefly reviewed
the history of the old time Saints and
the opposition they withstood. The
Christian religion grew in spite of OPP
position and the Paganism of Rome fell,
because the former was guided and con-
troIled by the spirit of truth. The
no
wrong because the world is opposed to
YOU" was ridiculous, the speaker
argued. Why. asked he, are we here?
For results he answered; for the same
reason that people build houses, plant
orchards and toll; for the benefit of
humanity and those who come after.
The infidel and he who cries II have
enough, l want no more! !" is like the
miser with his boarded wealth, of no
benefit to mankind. The religious
bodies talked about as being untrue,
have had more or less truth connected
with their beliefs and many have, con
sequently, lived for lengthy periods.
The doing of Gods will and obeyiug
His commandments constituted the
correct people of God. They began and
continued, step by step, and persevered
in the work they were engaged in, and
through obedience would ultimately
triumph. There is no happiness for
those who, knowing what is right,
persist in doing wrong. The conse-
uuence of evil acts no man can tell;
that was known only to the Almighty.
The principle of obedience was dwelt
upon, and the force of its being lived up
to was shown to be the beginning OF
happiness, prosperity and wealth. Ger
tain principles were advocated, but
were received in a spirit of rebellion by
many; to such he said that willingness
to accept truth, no matter IN what form
it came, was necessary to success. The
mere forms of the ordinances of the
gospel did not contain saVing.principles;
it was obedience to them which con
stituted their efficacy, and IN support OF
this theory, he cited the story OF Ma
man, the leper, and of the maiden who
told him to go to the prophet, who
required him to wash seven times in the
Jordan: Naman ridiculed the PROPOSE
ton at first, but was finally prevailed
upon to undergo the ceremony. Was
it the water that cleansed him? No, it
was the compliance with the Will of
God. Whatsoever man soweth, that
shall he reap" but be assured God will
remain unchanged and will mete out to
mankind their just dues. The history
of the ancient Jews was briefly gone
over; their vicissitudes and wanderings,
their ups and downs, and their final
building up of Jerusalem. Puny men
cannot stay the purposes of the Al
mighty, Elder Sloan asserted; His work
will spread and grow until His word
shall be known from the least unto the
greatst; then will be happiness, forgive
ness ard charity among men: when the
foundation of the work will be laid
which will endure forever. 1t is best for
all to learn Gods truths; obedience to
His will; therein was happiness for all.
He closed by predicting the ultimate
upbuilding of Gods kingdom and the
spread of truth, when happiness. would
be shed abroad, and hoped all would
share in the grand work.
BISHOP o. +. WHITNEY had listened
with pleasure to Elder Sloans remarks,
and in adding to those remsrks he
desired the aid of the Holy Spirit. Th9
differentiated assertion that the Sain j
are a peculiar people, had been made by
| the previous speaker. They were
pecuIisr. IN their views of life and death
and men of learning had been puzzled
to account for their knowledge in this
regard. Mormonism. as 1t was nick
named, had been said to be mixture of
all other religions of the world. The
Catholic sees something that reminds
him of his religion i'll Mormonism, the
Methodist, the Baptist and all others
the same, even to heathendom. 1t had
been ASSERTED by some that the founders
of Mormonism had drawn upon all
other religions for their doctrines.
This, however, was an error. Nor
monism was a new revelation to this
age, though not peculiar to it. as it had
| been on the earth before. 1t was in
contrast with the religions of the world
even while resembling them in some
respects, because it is the perfection,
while they are the parts The Saints
believed all truth had one common
origin-that God was the source of all
truth and intelligence; and wherever
truth and intelligence, wisdom and
morality exist they came from God. The
Latter-day Saints claim that the gospel
tehy preach is that OF Jesus Christ q
religion which had its origin in the
o1a-,oI r-ori1 hoforo this world ras